Parable of the Sonflower

The Parable of the Sonflower

by Patty Morford

  Once there was a small flower. She was fragile and afraid of everything, but her greatest fear was that she wouldn’t be able to do everything all the other flowers expected of her. In the back of her mind, she worried that she had been planted in the wrong garden.  She never felt that she blended well with the colors of the other flowers.  From her place at the edge of the patch, a well secluded corner, she could see the other garden beds, and envied the situation of similar little flowers.  She always felt unfortunate. She disparaged over the stormy days, and never appreciated or even noticed when it was sunny. To her, existence was a burden.

  Then one day, a group of other flowers were planted near her. She watched them, noticing how comfortable they seemed with themselves. They invited her to join their group.  Hesitantly, the small flower tried to connect and be more like these wonderful flowers.  As she became familiar with them, she realized that they were normal flowers, like her, with only one difference: they were confident, always working to improve themselves.

  

  The small flower participated in the things her new group of friends did, and, though at first she was afraid to open up, she soon found herself blossoming into a beautiful bloom, unique and confident.  She no longer hid in her corner, but lit it up with her individuality.  Her new friends helped her learn kindness, wisdom, self-confidence through God-confidence, forgiveness, and charity.  Through building her relationships with her fellow flowers, she came to know and love the One who put her where she was. She found that she was not planted in that garden to blend in and hide, but to stand out and shine as an example to those around her.  And just like she grew from the warmth and strength of the sun in the sky, she built herself inside through the strength and love of the Son, her Savior.  

  

  She learned that when she stays shallow and allows others to block the sun from her, she does not grow, and only breaks down. But when she plants her roots deep in the good soil and only listens to those who will build her up and help her find the sunlight, she blooms into a flower of a color and vibrancy that she never could have obtained on her own.  She learned to depend on the Gardener, and trust that He had planted her where she needed to be, where she could become her best self; a flower of the Son.

 Though small we may be,

And not far can we see,

We know there is Someone who cares.

He has a great Plan

For the welfare of Man,

He hears us in our heart-felt prayers.

We can turn to Him

When our future seems dim;

He'll lead us back into the light.

With help of great friends,

We'll endure to the end;

Together we'll all win the fight.

The End